Digital Painting with a Traditional Touch
A course by Citlali HaroIllustrator
A course by Citlali Haro, Illustrator
Learn to represent everyday scenes with Photoshop and create your own visual language
There are some paintings that look so authentic you'd never believe they were done with Photoshop. Illustrator Citlali Haro, who has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Sephora, and Vans is an expert at creating digital paintings with a traditional touch where she depicts personal scenes using her own narrative and visual style.
In this course, learn how to accurately recreate an analog style using digital tools. Citlali teaches you how to create illustrations with the power to express feelings and emotions and portray your subconscious mind.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 17 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 25 seconds
Light in painting
9 minutes, 24 seconds
Color as a narrative element
9 minutes, 47 seconds
Composition
11 minutes, 40 seconds
The history
5 minutes, 43 seconds
Introduction to Photoshop
16 minutes, 54 seconds
What's included in this course?
Citlali Haro starts the course by introducing herself and telling you about who she is, her artistic influences, what other creative techniques she has worked with, and where she finds her inspiration to create. She also talks about her professional career and experience as an illustrator.
Begin by learning the basic concepts of painting and discover what essential elements a painting needs to impact viewers. See how to play with light, color, and composition and use them as narrative tools to create an image from scratch.
Next, choose a phrase or a piece of text to be the center of the story you want to tell and start working on your project. Learn how to use a wide variety of tools to paint in Photoshop, decide on a color palette, and select a sketch to develop into your final piece.
Once you have your base, work through the painting process and all the decisions involved, including changing brushes, playing with layers, and experimenting with depth. Finally, add texture, adjust colors, and put the finishing touches on your painting to unify all the elements and create a coherent atmosphere. Wrap up the course by learning how to prepare your illustration for export so you can share it with the world.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Tell a surreal story through a painting you create in Photoshop.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of illustration, learning a new technique to give their art a traditional look, and depicting personal scenes through painting.
Requirements and materials
You need basic knowledge of illustration to take this course.
As for materials, you need a computer with Photoshop and a graphics tablet.
Reviews
- 11 months ago
muy lindo
- 1 year ago
excelente
- 1 year ago
Questo corso è molto interessante! Trovo gli esercizi del corso parecchio stimolanti!!
- 2 years ago
Excellent course! Very inspiring teacher with full, detailed instruction.
- 2 years ago
Es un muy básico en cuanto a técnicas de pintura y utilización del software, pero es un buen curso.
Throughout her career, she has worked for major brands including Nike, adidas, Innvictus, Cómex, Sephora, Vans, and Bimba y Lola. She has also participated in collective exhibitions in Sydney, Miami, Mexico City, Querétaro, Monterrey, and at the Zona Maco art fair.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Basic elements of painting
- Light in painting
- Color as a narrative element
- Composition
- U3
Development
- The history
- Introduction to Photoshop
- Start composing and playing with elements (Collage) 1
- Start composing and playing with elements (Collage) 2
- Rough sketch over collage
- U4
Painting process
- Painting 1
- Painting 2
- Painting 3
- Details and texture
- How to export your file
- FP
Final project
- Acrylic portrait
What to expect from a Domestika course
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Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to create expressive digital illustrations and paintings by combining visual storytelling, color use, lighting, composition, and cinematic references. The course covers everything from sketching to exporting finished pieces ready for print or digital presentation.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those familiar with basic illustration or Photoshop concepts who want to deepen their skills in visual storytelling, composition, and advanced digital painting techniques.
You’ll need a computer with Photoshop installed, and a graphics tablet is recommended. Access to your own photo references or online images is also suggested for composition and color exercises.
The course teaches you how to spot and adapt humorous scenes and visual tricks from film and TV to enrich your own work, giving it narrative depth and originality.
Yes, you’ll learn to use light, shadows, and color contrasts to create depth, specific moods, and enhance the storytelling in your digital illustrations.
Yes, the course covers how to adjust resolution, format, and color profiles, plus tips for exporting high-quality work for print or digital display.
You’ll do sketches, digital collages, paint dreamlike scenes, compose visual stories, and practice exporting and professionally presenting your digital artwork.